Francisco is an eight-year-old boy who lives in Colombia with his family. He is intelligent, charismatic, and extremely friendly. Francisco's energy spreads joy, and his sweetness leaves a special impression on everyone around him. When he grows up, he dreams of becoming an inventor to change the world with his ideas. About one year ago, Francisco developed an umbilical hernia, a bulge that occurs when abdominal tissue pushes through a small opening near the belly button. Although umbilical hernias do not usually cause acute pain, Francisco experiences tenderness and discomfort that limit his daily activities, such as running, jumping, and playing with his friends. If left untreated, the hernia also carries the risk of complications, such as incarceration or strangulation. Fortunately, on September 17th, Francisco will undergo surgery to repair the hernia at our medical partner’s care center, Clinica Noel. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund Francisco's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Francisco’s mother shared: "I want to express my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the people who have decided to sponsor his surgery. Thank you for extending your generous hand without even knowing us personally; that gesture is one of the purest expressions of human kindness. Your support not only makes this surgery possible and addresses a medical need, but it also restores our peace of mind and fills our hearts with hope that Francisco will once again be able to play and dream without limitations. May God bless you abundantly, multiply your generosity in your life, and continue to guide every endeavor you undertake. With infinite gratitude, Francisco’s mom and the entire family"

Kidus is a cheerful, active, and sociable two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with other children, and enjoys toy cars. As the first child in his family, he brings immense joy to his parents. His mother is a homemaker, while his father works as an assistant to transport drivers. Their income is limited, and the family lives in a house owned by a relative. Kidus was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His condition was discovered shortly after birth while he was still in the hospital. The doctors informed his parents that he should not undergo circumcision, because corrective surgery would be required in the future. They advised the family to seek further medical review at a higher-level hospital. The news was very difficult for Kidus's parents. His mother became deeply distressed, and often cried because she worried about her son's future. His father was also greatly affected by the situation. Determined to find help, they took Kidus to a public referral hospital, where doctors assessed his condition and informed the family that Kidus would likely require two surgical procedures. However, because he was still young, he was put on a surgical waiting list. The family patiently waited for two years before receiving a call from the hospital. They were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM) for surgical treatment. Fortunately, Kidus is now scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of Kidus' procedure and care. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms, and he will be at risk of future complications. Kidus' mother expressed her gratitude, saying: "I pray that Kidus will recover well, and have a healthy future. Thank you very much for this opportunity and support. May God richly bless you, reward your kindness, and bless the work of your hands. We are truly grateful for all that you have done for our family."

Camila is a sweet young girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who maintains a small store from home so that she has more time to spend caring for her daughter. Camila has five older siblings. She likes to go to school, and she loves to paint. When Camila was a baby, doctors told her mom she had a heart condition that may close with time, but as she has grown older, the heart condition has affected her health more and more. Camila also has developmental disabilities. Camila has a cardiac condition called a ventricular septal defect, where a hole exists between the two lower chambers of the heart that causes blood to leak as the heart pumps. Camila's condition prevents blood from circulating in her body normally, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 15th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, a patch will be sewn over the hole in her heart so that blood can no longer leak through it. Camila's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Camila's mother shared, "I'm so happy my daughter can receive the treatment she needs. We were waiting for a long time."

Chepkat is an 11-year-old girl from Kenya. She comes from a pastoralist family whose livelihood has always depended on keeping goats and cattle. Due to the harsh, isolated nature of their residence, Chepkat has never had the opportunity to attend school. Her parents survive through livestock keeping, but recently their family suffered a major setback when raiders attacked their homestead and drove away their cattle, leaving them with nothing. One afternoon, while trying to pick fruit from a tree, Chepkat accidentally stepped on a dry branch that suddenly broke beneath her. She fell heavily to the ground and immediately experienced severe pain. Due to the remoteness of their home, the family had to travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest health facility. At the first facility, she was immobilized and later referred to another hospital, where she was managed conservatively with bed rest and pain medication. However, her condition did not improve, and her pain persisted. Chepkat was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where an x-ray revealed a fracture of the head of her hip bone, a serious injury that requires urgent surgical intervention. She needs an urgent Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilize and repair the bone. On March 11th, Chepkat will undergo a fracture repair procedure. She needs help so that she can receive the operation she needs and regain the chance to walk and live a healthy and active life. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Chepkat's mother says, "My child is in pain and cannot stand, please help her so she can regain her mobility."

Mu is a 75-year-old retired woman from Burma. She lives with her family in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand, with her son, daughter-in-law, three grandsons and two granddaughters. They moved to the refugee camp in April 2023 from their home in Bango Division, Burma, in order to escape the fighting and airstrikes in their village. Mu’s son, two older grandsons and older granddaughter work as agricultural day laborers in the camp. Her younger grandson and granddaughter are students in the camp. Mu is experiencing severe lower right back pain, nausea, and cannot eat. Her urine is cloudy, and she cannot stand or even sit up fully due to her pain. Her family is worried about the financial burden of treatment and their lack of access to care. Mu was diagnosed with kidney stones and physicians at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, determined that Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) could resolve her symptoms. ESWL is a procedure that can break up the stones in the urinary system and the fragments will exit in the urine. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on February 6th and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Mu's son expressed, “I see her in pain, but I cannot find the money to get her treatment.” Mu’s daughter-in-law said, “We are sad for her but happy that she will receive support. Thank you for helping her and finding a way for her to receive treatment. She has suffered for a long time.”

Dah is a 21-year-old young man from Burma. He lives with his mother, his wife, two daughters, and other family members in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. They moved to the camp due to conflict happening between armed groups in their village in Burma. His wife is a homemaker, and Dah is a day laborer. During his free time, he likes to play volleyball with his friends in the camp. Two days ago, Dah began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain, accompanied by a fever. He was diagnosed with appendicitis and now needs surgery to prevent his condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Dah receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on January 16th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Dah and his family need your support. Dah said, “I never experienced pain like this before. I would like my pain to go away.”

Ar is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and their six children in a refugee camp in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, Thailand. Ar and her family have been living in the camp for around nine years. Her husband helps his brother as a shopkeeper, while their children go to school in the camp. During her free time, she enjoys watching movies on her phone and spending time with her children. Ar is pregnant, and the doctors at the camp recommend she deliver via a c-section due to a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Ar undergo a C-Section on December 16th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Ar needs your support. Ar said, “When I heard that my baby is in the wrong position and needs surgery to deliver him, I started feeling worried and stressed. I asked my brother-in-law to let me borrow money, but he told us that he cannot, as he does not have much either. I do not know what to do, which makes me more stressed and worried when it is closer to my due date. Finally, I am very happy to hear that there will be an organization that will help pay for my surgery cost. Thank you so much to BCMF and all your donors for your kind support. I still do not know where to look for money without your support. Thank you so much for helping me.”

Jhovana is 12 years old and a young student from Bolivia. She is in the ninth grade, and loves to play soccer with her friends. She lives in the southern part of Bolivia with her dad, who works in the fields; her mom, who takes care of a herd of llamas; and six siblings. Last year, Jhovana had a nosebleed that wouldn't stop, so her parents took her to the doctor, who detected a heart murmur and sent her to a cardiologist for diagnosis. Jhovana has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to the heart. This condition stops Jhovana's blood from circulating properly, causing weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition is not treated. On November 11th, Jhovana will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Jhovana's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Jhovana's father shared, "I just want my daughter to be healthy like her other brothers and sisters, so she can have a healthy life!"